Romney, Huckabee, Palin lead GOP field for 2012 nomination

A trio of former Republican governors lead the pack for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, a new poll suggested Wednesday.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin stand out above other contenders for the GOP nomination, a Clarus Research Group poll said.

Nineteen percent of Republicans polled said they preferred Romney to win the nomination, 18 percent said Huckabee, and 17 percent said Palin.

The poll tested virtually all other potential contenders for the nomination: former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (10 percent), New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (9 percent), Florida Sen.-elect Marco Rubio (5 percent), Texas Rep. Ron Paul (4 percent), Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (4 percent), Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (3 percent), Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (2 percent), South Dakota Sen. John Thune (2 percent) and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (2 percent). Five percent of Republicans were undecided.

The poll also helped sketch out a profile of the kind of nominee Republicans would prefer in 2012. Republicans in the poll seemed to indicate they prefer a nominee with management and business experience, perhaps a governor, who tends to be more pragmatic than stridently ideological.

Sixty-one percent of GOP voters said they would prefer a centrist, pragmatic conservative with a good chance of beating President Obama in 2012, while 29 percent would vote for a nominee who's a staunch, outspoken conservative with only a fair chance of besting Obama.

Forty-nine percent of Republicans said it was important for the nominee to be known as intelligent and competent, compared with 37 percent who said it was important for the nominee to be seen as someone with clear and consistent philosophical principles.

Sixty-five percent of Republicans would prefer a candidate with experience in management or as a governor, while 15 percent would prefer someone with legislative experience.

Fifty-three percent want a nominee with experience in private business, 28 percent want a nominee with experience in government, and 11 percent of GOP voters said the nominee should have experience in both.

The poll, conducted Dec. 10-16, has a 5.1 percent margin of error among Republican voters.